Placer-machine.



J. W. WOODS.

PLACER MACHINE. I APPLICATION FILED FEB- 28. I916.

Patented Jan. 9, 1917.

2 SflEETSSHEET l. 1T1 m J. W. WOODS.

PLACER MACHINE.

MA-mwumm o c JAMES W. WOODS, 0F GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO.

PLACER-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 9, 1911.

Application filed February 28, 1916. SerialNo. 80,960.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, James W. Woons, a citizenof the United States, residing at Grand Junction, in the county of Mesaand State of Colorado, have invented new and useful ImprovementsinPlacer-Machines, of Which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to separators or placer machines; and itcontemplates the provision of a simple, compact and easily operatedmachine, and one which is highly efficient and yet is adapted to beoperated successfully with just enough water to keep the gravel in amoist state during the passage of the same through the drum of themachine.

The machine is susceptible of being successfully operated without theuse of mercury, though it is so constructed that mercury can be usedwhen desired or expedient.

The invention in all of its details will be fully understood from thefollowing description and claim when the same are read in connectionwith the drawings, accompanying and forming part of this specification,in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine constituting the bestpractical embodiment of my invention that I have as yet devised. Fig. 2is a front elevation of the machine, with parts broken away. Fig. 3 is adetail longitudinal vertical section illustrative of the screen, drumand agitator of the machine. Fig. 4: is a detail of the bell-crank andconnections.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all ofthe views of the drawings.

The main frame 1 of the machine may be of any construction compatiblewith the purpose of my invention, and between the spaced longitudinal orside portions of the same is disposed a swinging cradle 2 that carriesthree (more or less) riffles 3; the said riflles being so disposed thatthe uppermost riflie is adapted to receive from the screen andthe lowertable of the drum and is also adapted to discharge to the intermediateriffle, which is longer than the uppermost riflle, Fig. 1, While theintermediate riflie is arranged'to discharge to the lowermost rifile,all as best shown in Fig. 2. The riflies, per 86 may be of any approvedconstruction, and it is therefore deemed unnecessary to enter into adetailed description of the same.

The cradle 2 is hung from the frame 1 through the medium of pivotedmetallic straps 4 which straps are possessed of resiliency in order topermit of a limited amount of movement of the cradle transversely of themachine.

Mounted on an upright of the main frame is a bell-crank 5, andinterposed between one arm of said bell-crank and the adjacent side ofthe cradle 2 is a connecting rod 6. The other arm of the bell-crank 5 isconnected through a pitman 7 with the crank 8 of a transverse shaft 9which is journaled in suitable bearings at the upper rear portion of themain frame, as illustrated. By virtue of this construction, it will bemanifest that rotation of the shaft 9 will be attended by a short sidemotion of the cradle 2 and rifiles 3 which will have the efiect ofworking the gravel and lighter substances off. the riffles. When desireda plurality of apertures may be provided in the outer arm of thebellcrank for the purpose of adjustment; and I would also have itdistinctly understood that while I show means at one side only fortransmitting motion to the cradle 2, such means may be duplicated at theopposite side of the main frame, if deemed necessary or expedient,without involving departure from the scope of my claimed invention.

Mounted in suitable bearings on the main frame 1 and located above theshaft 9, is a drive shaft 10, which may be equipped with a crank 11 formanual rotation or may be adapted for connection with a motor in thediscretion of the manufacturer. Said shaft 10 is connected throughintermeshed gears 12 and 13 with the shaft 9, and by reference to Fig. 2it will be seen that the shaft 10 is provided at the opposite side ofthe machine with a spur gear 14 that is intermeshed with a spur gear 15on an upper transverse crank shaft 16, for a purpose hereinafter setforth. 17 18, and 19 are braces fixed with respect to the main frame 1.20 is the lower section of the drum hereinafter referred to in detail,and 21 is a screen frame. The said frame 21 is connected at its rear endand through the medium of one or-more resilient straps 22 with the rearend of the drum section 20 which drum section is maintained in fixedrelation to the frame by the braces 17 and 18. The forward portion ofthe screen frame 21 is supported by swinging straps 23 which are pivotedat their upper rto effect said movement of the screen frame incidentalto the operation of the machine, through the medium of links 2 1interposed between the crank shaft 16 and the sides of the screen frame.

The screen frame 21 carries a screen 25, Fig. 3, and in front of saidscreen 25 the frame is provided with a table 26, while surrounding thesaid screen is a hopper 27 arranged to discharge on the upper table ofthe lower drum section 20. Said drum section 20 is provided at anintermediate point of its length with a curvilinear or dished portion28, and in front of said portion 28 the section carries a table 29. Thedished or cylindrical portion of the drum section 20' is provided at 30with several corrugations, and it will also be noticed that the forwardtable 29 is provided with an upwardly disposed, transverse corrugation31, designed to offer an obstruction to the passage of the materialpassing through the machine.

Arranged abovethe drum section 20 is a complementary section 32, anddisposed in the drum thus formed are fingers 33 which are carried by theshaft 9 and constitute an agitator designed and adapted to work theupper and lighter part of the gravel ofl and break up any lumps of dirtthat may be cemented together.

In the practical operation of the machine, the material is supplied inany approved manner to the screen frame 21, whereupon the screen 25 willseparate the coarse gravel from the fine substance. The coarse graveland other coarse substance pass to and over the table 26 and aredischarged from said table to an inclined perforated apron from whencethey pass to the uppermost riflle 3. The sand and finegravel takethrough the screen 25 and onto the upper table of the drum. The sand andfine gravel work by gravity through the drum, and as the gravel must beraised some inches from thebottom of the drum before it passes out, andas the bottom of drum is corrugated, the gold is retained therein, whilethe lighter material is worked fromthe top by the fingers 33constituting a cylinder rotating inside of the drum. The tables aboveand below thedrum portion 28 are inclined so that during the operationof the'machine the wet substance will pass readily from the upper tableto the portion 28 and from said-portion 28 to the lower table 29. Byvirtue of this terial and work the upper strata thereof through thedished trough; the said dished troughbeing provided on its loweruprising portion and on saiddischarge lip with ri-flie pockets adaptedto intercept the heaviermaterial passing thereover under impetus fromthe agitator.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JAMES W. WOODS.

Witnesses:- v

MARY E. MGGARTY, Mrs. JAMES W. WooDs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner'of Patents, Washington, D. O.

